Alonso: Project A Precursor For City-Wide Inclusionary Zoning

A proposed residential project with ground floor retail will serve as an example of what affordable housing in Asbury Park could look like moving forward, Asbury Park Director of Planning and Redevelopment Michele Alonso said.

“This is a precursor for when [or if] we adopt a citywide affordable housing plan via ordinance for inclusionary housing,” she said.

Inclusionary housing [or zone] is a term used to define the preservation and/or promotion of affordable housing within new construction.

Located at the corner of First Avenue and Langford Street [at right], the 80 unit complex, with two ground floor retail spaces, includes 20 percent deed restricted affordable apartments, Alonso said. This equates to 16 units. There are four residential units proposed on the ground floor; two facing First Avenue and two facing Second Avenue.

“What I’m presenting tonight would permit this project only if it had a 20 percent affordable housing,” Alonso said.

The project falls under a redevelopment overlay to the citywide area rehabilitation designation, she said. There are a set of guidelines, including sustainability requirements, the developer must follow.

Mayor John Moor said the project is an important gauge to the city’s plan to make affordable housing more accessible to those who live and work in Asbury Park.

“It’s nice to have a project come forward to the city without us requesting an affordable housing component,” he said.

The building, which sits in the city’s R1 [residential] zone, is owned by developer Mark Adjmi and his Asbury Holdings LLC.

A a semi enclosed flex space would be used to accommodate parking at the rear of the building along Langford Street. Overflow parking would be allocated on the green space.

Alonso said the city would enter into a subsequent redeveloper’s agreement for the affordable housing deed restriction.

If the City Council approves the proposal, the site plan would move onto the Planning Board before returning to the governing body for final approvals.